Four Dimensional Elasticity and General Relativity

Abstract

It has been shown that the extension of the elasticity theory in more than three dimensions allows a description of space-time as a properly stressed medium, even recovering the Minkowski metric in the case of uniaxial stress. The fundamental equation for the metric in the theory is shown to be the equilibrium equation for the medium. Examples of spherical and cylindrical symmetries in four dimensions are considered, evidencing convergencies and divergencies with the classical general relativity theory. Finally the possible meaning of the dynamics of the four dimensional elastic medium is discussed.